Leaf-miner
and case-bearer: Initially feeds underside of the leaf making tiny holes in groups.
The larva feeds into November then overwinters attached to the angle
of a twig. In the spring and constructs a case as shown with a large
'pallium' of scales - the autumnal ones being blackish (British
leafminers).

The
full grown larva lives in a black pistol case of c. 8 mm, with a
mouth angle of c. 90°. The case is covered by a silken mantle
(pallium) that hangs from its rear end, and almost covers the case,
giving it the general aspect of a bird dropping. The larva mines
the leaf from the underside, making many, unusually small fleckmines,
up to about 30 together (Bladmineerders van Europa).

Larva: The larvae of moths have a head capsule and chewing mouthparts with opposable mandibles (see video of a gracillarid larva feeding), six thoracic legs and abdominal legs (see examples).

Distribution
in Great Britain and Ireland: Widespread in England including
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Dorset, East Kent, East Norfolk, East Suffolk,
Glamorgan, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Wight, Middlesex, North Hampshire, North Somerset, Shropshire,
South Hampshire, Stafford, Surrey, West Kent, West Norfolk, West Suffolk and Worcestershire (NBN
Atlas).